Ken Davidoff: Werth seeks agent who will take less of his money

Jayson Werth didn’t want to discuss anything about his reported change of representation on the verge of a lucrative free agency. “Those are all Twittered rumors,’’ the Philadelphia Phillies right fielder told Newsday on Saturday.

The State Journal-Register

Writer

Posted Sep. 12, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 12, 2010 at 11:06 AM

Posted Sep. 12, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 12, 2010 at 11:06 AM

Jayson Werth didn’t want to discuss anything about his reported change of representation on the verge of a lucrative free agency.

“Those are all Twittered rumors,’’ the Philadelphia Phillies right fielder told Newsday on Saturday.

Technically, yes; until Werth officially comments on it and, more importantly, selects a new agent, that’s all it is. But an industry source confirmed the original report of ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that Werth, 31, already has notified the Beverly Hills Sports Council that he’s leaving them.

Why? The source said the Chatham Glenwood High School graduate is looking for a “fee deal.’’ Rather than dole out the standard 5 percent commission to his agent, Werth wants to give something closer to 3 or 3.5 percent.

Werth has looked into established agents such as Scott Boras and brothers Seth and Sam Levinson, the source said, but no such high-end shop is likely to cut Werth a break. For instance, the Levinsons couldn’t agree to take 3.5 percent from Werth; they’re taking 5 percent from David Wright and their many other clients.

In any case, the baseball world anxiously awaits Werth’s decision. At the least, he appears in line to match the four-year, $66-million deal the New York Mets gave Jason Bay last offseason.

Yankees have options

So who will pay Werth? The New York Yankees have long been rumored to want to go after Werth or Carl Crawford this winter. That, however, is not a safe bet.

Nick Swisher has secured his place in right field; the Yankees owe him $9 million next year and have a very reasonable $10.25 million team option on him in 2012. Curtis Granderson has picked up his play after a tough beginning. Brett Gardner has given the Yankees exactly what they desired from him in left field.

You never rule out anything when it comes to the Yankees, but it’s clear that their top offseason priorities will be re-signing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera (and Joe Girardi) and going after Cliff Lee to bolster the front end of the starting rotation.

Maybe they’ll find an extra $50 million or $100 million under a pillow this winter, as they did two years ago when they brought in Mark Teixeira after signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. If that occurs, Werth would appear a better fit than Crawford because of his patience, power and right-handedness.

He could provide a buffer for aging righty hitters Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.